ABC overhauls Android app after demand surges

ABC overhauls Android app after demand surges

ABC Innovation today announced an overhaul of its flagship Android app after audience demand for Android more than tripled over the last 12 months

Version 3.0 of the flagship ABC app for Android smartphones is now available from the Google Play store, bringing into alignment content offerings on iOS and Android. The update will add radio and TV content, the ‘Wake up with the ABC’ alarm clock, improvements to presentation of news stories and a brand new navigation structure.

Active usage of the ABC flagship Android app has increased 360% from May 2012 to May 2013[1] and Android users now represent 35% of all mobile browsers on ABC Online.

Director of ABC Innovation, Angela Clark said: “Australians have a love affair with mobile devices generally, but we have seen a large shift to Android over the past year. We get a lot of feedback from our audience members asking us to produce more Android apps and we are putting more resources into mobile this year to enable us to better service all mobile users.”

The ABC Innovation department manages the ABC website abc.net.au and core mobile offerings including the ABC iPhone, iPad and Android apps and a number of the ABC’s content portals.

Promotion of the new ABC Android App is being rolled out on ABC1, ABC Radio and online over the next fortnight.

ABC Innovation manages the ABC website abc.net.au and core mobile offerings including the ABC iPhone, iPad and Android apps and a number of the ABC’s content portals. It also runs the ABC’s Innovation Lab, which incubates digital content and produces initiatives and explore ‘future facing’ experiences for audiences. ABC Innovation’s technology team delivers audience facing software and technology projects in mobile, personalisation and services the ABC’s divisional Content Development Network, streaming and support needs. More recently, ABC Innovation has partnered with Education Services Australia to create the online portal Splash, which aims to transform school-age learning by making available free educational interactive, video and games – all matched to the new Australian curriculum for primary and secondary school children.